Device for teaching arithmetic



June 30, 1953 L. D. GOODWIN DEVICE FOR TEACHING .RITHMETIC 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 51. 1951 June 30, 1953 L. D. GOODWIN DEVICE FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIC 2 she'ets-sneet 2 Filed Aug. 31, 1951 Fig .6

5 mm n mw m e ED O 3 V MH m6 A n D. w s W 5 E 3 L Patented June 30, 1953 UNITED PATENT OFFICE vDEVICE FOR TEACHING ARITHMETIC Lewis D. Goodwin, North Tonawanda, N. Y.

Application August 31, 1951, Serial No. 244,561

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to educational toys, and more particularly to a novel and improved device for teaching multiplication.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved mechanical device for teaching multiplication, the device being simple in construction, being easy to operate, and being very compact in size.

A further object of the invention is tc provide an improved mechanical toy adapted to be em'- ployed as an educational aid in teaching multiplication and similar mathematical operations, the toy being inexpensive to manufacture, being rugged in construction, being simple to manipulate, and being neat in appearance.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a front elevational view of an improved educational toy constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the improved toy of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional detail view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a Vertical cross-sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, portions of the elements being shown broken away;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an answer wheel which may be employed with the educational toy device of Figures l to 6.

Referring to the drawings, the education toy device is designated generally at II and comprises a rectangular housing I2 having a base I3. Mounted on the base I3 are longitudinally aligned, transversely extending bearing brackets I4 and I5 in the top portions of which is journaled a longitudinally extending, horizontal sleeve I 6. Secured to said sleeve between the bearing brackets I4 and I5 is the multiplier wheel II. The wheel I'I has inscribed on its periphery regularly spaced numerals from 1 to 12, employed as multipliers in the multiplication table.

integrally formed with the multiplier wheel Il is the ratchet wheel I8 which is disposed adjas cent to the bearing bracket I5, as shown in Figure 6. Mounted on the base I3 is an electric motor I9 having secured to its shaft the eccentric disc 2B. Designated at 2i is a pawl arm which is rotatably mounted on the eccentric disc 2!) so as to be reciprocated thereby responsive to rotation of the motor shaft, shown at 22. It will be readily apparent that since the eccentric disc 20 is rigidly secured to the motor shaft 22, rotation of the motor shaft causes the pawl arm 2I to be reciprocated back and forth in view of the rotatable connection of the end of the pawl arm on the eccentric 20. The free end of the pawl arm 2l has secured thereto a laterally projecting pin element 23 which is engageable with the ratchet teeth on the ratchet wheel I8, as shown in Figure 4, the pawl arm being biased into engagement with wheel I8 by the provision of a coil spring 24 connecting the intermediate portion of arm 2I to the base of the bearing bracket I5, whereby the pawl yarm 2| is biased downwardly. The reciprocation of the pawl arm 2 I, therefore, rotates the ratchet wheel I8 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, responsive to the clockwise rotation of the motor shaft 22. Designated at 25 is a block member resiliently mounted on a spring arm 26 secured to base I3, the spring arm 26 urging the block member 25 against the periphery of the ratchet wheel I8 and causing the block member 25 to interlock with the ratchet teeth to prevent counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel I8, as viewed in Figure 4, but to allow clockwise rotation thereof.

Designated at 2l is a longitudinally extending shaft member which is rotatably received in the sleeve I6 and projects on opposite ends thereof, as shown in Figure 6. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 2l at one end thereof is the multiplicand wheel 28, Said wheel being secured on a sleeve member 29 providing a bearing therefor on the shaft 2l. The multiplicand wheel 28 has in scribed on its periphery the regularly spaced numerals from 1 to 12 of the multiplication table. Rigidly secured tothe multiplicand wheel 23 is a ratchet disc 3U disposed parallel to and opposing the ratchet disc I8, the pawl arm 2i being located immediately between the ratchet discs i8 and 3D, as shown in Figure 2. The pawl arm 2I has secured thereto a laterally projecting pin element 3I spaced above the pin element 23, as shown in Figure 4, and which is adapted to engage the periphery of the ratchet disc 30 once for every complete rotation of the ratchet wheel I8, as will be presently described. As shown. in Figure 4, the ratchet wheel I8 is formed at its periphery with the ratchet teeth 32, defined by notches therebetween. One of the notches, designated at 33, is made substantially deeper than the other notches on the periphery of the ratchet wheel, whereby the pawl arm 2| is allowed to descend a. much larger distance when it engages in the notch 33 than when it engages in the other notches on the periphery of the ratchet wheel I8. When the pin element 23 enters the deeper notch 23, the pawl arm 2| is moved downwardly by the biasing action of the spring 24 a sufficient distance to allow the pin element 3| to engage the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel 30, allowing the pawl arm 2| to advance the ratchet wheel 3U one step simultaneously with the advancement of the ratchet wheel I8 one step, as the pin element 23 drives the tooth adjacent the notch 33 in a clockwise direction. During the remaining portions of the cycle of rotation of the ratchet wheel I8 the pin element 3| is held out of engagement with the ratchet wheel and the multiplicand wheel 28 is consequently stationary during the entire portion of the cycle of revolution of the multiplier wheel I1 except for the step during which the pin element engages in the notch 33.

Engagement of the pin element 3| with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 30 may be prevented by the provision of a slidable cam bar 34, arranged as shown in Figure 5. The bar 34 is Vslidably supported in a depending bracket 35 secured to the top wall 38 of housing I2, the forward end of the bar 34 projecting outwardly through the front wall 31 of housing I2, and having secured thereon a handle 38 for manually reciprocating the bar 34. The inner end of the bar is formed with the downwardly curved cam portion 39 underlying the pin 3| on pawl arm 2|, whereby the pawl arm may be lifted slightly when the bar 34 is pushed inwardly. The lifting of the pawl arm 2| by the cam bar'34 is insuicient to prevent complete disengagement of the pin 23 from the periphery of the ratchet wheel |8, whereby the reoiprocation of the pawl arm 2| continues to drive the ratchet wheel I8 and the multiplier wheel I1 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure l4, while preventing the pin 3| from engaging the periphery of the ratchet wheel 39. When the cam bar 34 is pulled outwardly, namely, to the left from the position shown in Figure 5, the curved cam portion 39 disengages from the pin 3| and allows said pin 3| to engage the toothed periphery of the ratchet wheel 39 when the pin 23 enters the deeper notch 33 of ratchet disc I8.

As shown in Figure 5, the plate member 25 engages the toothed periphery of the ratchet disc 30 as well as the periphery of ratchet disc I8, preventing clockwise rotation of disc 39, as viewed in Figure 5, but allowing counterclockwise rotation thereof, namely, allowing the ratchet disc 30 to rotate in the same direction as the ratchet disc I 8. The end of sleeve I9 is halved, as `shown at 40, said halved portion ibeing received in the bearing bracket I4. Designated at 4I is the answer wheel which is secured to a sleeve 42, rotatably mounted on the shaft 21, the sleeve 42 being halved at its inner end, as shown at 43, to interlock with the halved portion ofthe sleeve I6 and to dene a driving coupling therewith, whereby the answer wheel 4I is driven simultaneously with the multiplier wheel |1. As shown in Figure 6, the answer wheel 4| is detachably secured to the shaft 21 by the provision of a washer 44 and machine screw 45 threadably engaged in the end of the shaft 21 and restraining the sleeve element 42 against endwise movement outwardly on the shaft 21. At the opposite end 0f the shaft a similar washer 46 is provided, and a machine screw 41 threadedly engaged in the end of the shaft 21 and restraining the sleeve elements 29 against endwise outward movement on the shaft 21.

The answer wheel 4I is inscribed on its periphery with the numerals corresponding to the answers obtained by the multiplication of the respective numbers on the multiplicand wheel 28 with the successive numbers on the multiplier wheel l1.

The front wall of the housing I 2, designated at 48, is formed with respective windows 49, 50 and 5I, displaying the respective numbers on the peripheries of the wheels 28, I1 and 4I. Designated at 52 is a vertically slidable mask bar extending slidably through and frictionally engaging in a slot provided in the top wall 36 of the housing |2 immediately above the window 5|. The top end of the mask bar 52 comprises the external handle 53 whereby the bar 52 may be raised or lowered manually. The mask ,bar 52 is arranged so that it may be lowered to a position covering the window 5| and preventing observation of the periphery of wheel 4I, and alternatively may be the machanism for changing the answer wheel 4 I In using the device, the cam bar 34 is pulled outwardly, whereby the multiplicand wheel 28 is caused to rotate through one step for each complete revolution of the multiplier wheel I1 and the answer wheel 4|. The multiplicand wheel 28 is thus allowed to be advanced step by step until the proper numeral on the periphery of the multiplicand wheel 28 appears in the window 49 to correspond with the number values given on the periphery of the answer wheel 4|. The cam bar 34 is then pushed inwardly by means of the handle 38, causing the curved portion 39 to engage the pin element 3 I, as above described, whereby the multiplicand wheel 28 is held stationary, while the multiplier wheel I1 and the answer wheel 4I rotate. Under these conditions, the answer appearing in the window 5| will correspond to the product of the numeral shown through the window 49 and the numeral shown through the window 59. The answer may be hidden by lowering the mask member 52 to a position wherein the window 5| is obscured, whereby the child employing the device may guess or attempt to give the correct answer, which then maybe verified by elevating the mask member 52 to a position rendering the answer visible through the window 5I. Thus, a child is enabled to practice multiplication of the different multiplier numerals ywith a particular multiplicand numeral selected from the wheel 28. When it is desired to employ a different multiplicand number on the wheel 28, a diierent answer wheel 4 corresponding thereto, may be substituted in the device in place of the previous answer wheel, and the process may be repeated with the new multiplicand numeral selected.

When it is desired to energize the motor I9, to cause the pawl arm 2| to be reciprocated, the line cord of the motor may be plugged into a suitable power receptacle. The motor I9 will then be operated continuously until it is desired to discontinue reciprocation of the pawl arm 2|, at which time the line cord is disconnected from the power receptacle. Alternatively, the line .gl cord may be provided with a conventional control switch.

Motor I9 is energized whenever it is desired to change the multiplier numeral exhibited in window 59, or whenever it is desired to change the multiplicand numeral exhibited in window 49, in the manner above described, namely, by pulling the cam bar 34 outwardly.

Since there are twelve notches in the periphery of ratchet wheel I8, multiplier wheel H rotates at one-twelfth the speed of the motor shaft 22 when the motor is energized.

After the desired answer wheel il has been installed, the motor I9 is energized and the cam bar 34 is pulled outwardly and maintained in its outwardly pulled position until the proper multiplicand number appears in the window 49. Thus, the device may be employed to practice division, since the number appearing in the window 49 must be the proper factor, which when multiplied by the numbers on the multiplier wheel Il, gives the answer numbers appearing in window I.

In practicing multiplication, as above eX- plained, the Ina-sk member 52 may be lowered to obscure window 5I, whereby the child using the device may attempt to mentally calculate the correct answer corresponding to the product of the selected numbers appearing in windows 49 and 59, which may be then verified by elevating mask member 52. This procedure may be followed for the different combinations of the positions of the wheels 28 and l1. Thus, the mask member 52 may be lowered prior to which energization of motor I9 and raised after the motor has been deenergized and the mental calculation made.

Obviously, the same apparatus may be employed for teaching division by providing suitable answer wheels therefor While a specic embodiment of an improved mechanical educational device for teaching arithmetical processes has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed in the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An educational toy for teaching arithmetic comprising a support, a pair of spaced coaxial wheels rotatably mounted on said support, means coupling said wheels for simultaneous rotation, a ratchet disc rigidly connected to said wheels, a rotary driving member mounted on said support, a pawl eccentrically connected to said driving member and drivingly engaging said ratchet disc, a third wheel rotatably mounted on said support coaxially with said pair of wheels, a ratchet disc secured to said third wheel, means on said pawl drivingly engageable with said last-named ratchet disc, the periphery of said rst-named ratchet disc being formed with spaced notches, all but one of said notches being relatively shallow and preventing engagement of said pawl with the last-named ratchet disc, said p-awl being engageable with the last-named ratchet disc only when the pawl engages in the deeper notch of the rstnamed ratchet disc, whereby the last-named ratchet disc is rotated through a single step of actuation thereof for each complete revolution of the first-mentioned pair of wheels, spaced numerical indicia on the peripheries of the respective wheels, said indicia being angularly spaced by distances corresponding to said single step of actuation, and a manually movable abut ment element carried by said support and arranged to be moved at times to a position engaging the pawl and preventing the pawl from fully entering said deeper notch, thereby preventing actuation of said third wheel.

2. An educational toy for teaching arithmetic comprising a support, a pair of spaced coaxial wheels rotatably mounted on said support, means coupling said wheels for simultaneous rotation, a ratchet disc rigidly connected to said wheels, a rotary driving member mounted on said support, a pawl eccentrically connected to said driving member and drivingly engaging said ratchet disc, a third wheel rotatably mounted on said support coaXially with said pair of wheels, a ratchet disc secured to said third wheel, means on said pawl drivingly engageable with said lastnamed ratchet disc, the periphery of said firstnamed ratchet disc being formed with spaced notches, all but one of said notches being relatively shallow and preventing engagement of said pawl with the last-named ratchet disc, said pawl being engageable with the last-named ratchet disc only when the pawl engages in 'the deeper notch or" the irst-named ratchet disc, whereby.

the last-named ratchet disc is rotated through a single step of actuation thereof for each complete revolution of the iirst-mentioned pair of wheels, spaced numerical indicia on the peripheries of the respective wheels, said indicia being angularly spaced by distances corresponding to said single step of actuation, a manually movable abutment element carried by said support and arranged to be moved at times to a position engaging the pawl and preventing the pawl from fully entering said deeper notch, thereby preventing actuation of said third wheel, and a shield member slidably carried by said support and arranged to be moved into shielding relation over the periphery of one of said pair of Wheels.

LEWIS D. GOODWIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 214,822 Hitchcock Apr. 29, 1879 1,479,992 Kinney Jan. 8, 1924 2,114,501 Oswald Apr. 19, 1938 2,476,580 Bergman July 19, 1949 

